The Pulpit Online

Thursday of the Second Week of Easter (23rd April, 2020)

thepulpitonline.com 0 Weekday Homilies 05:42

<br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Homily (Reflection) for Thursday of
the Second Week of Easter (23<sup>rd</sup> April, 2020) on the Gospel<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 50%;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></span></b><br />

</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 10pt 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;">Topic: Heaven or earth</span></b><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;">.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">

</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 2pt 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">In today’s gospel, there is a comparison between two
personalities, “The one who comes from above is above all; the one who is of
the earth belongs to the earth and speaks about earthly things. The one who
comes from heaven is above all.” The gospel also reads, “The Father loves the
Son and has placed all things in his hands. Whoever believes in the Son has
eternal life; whoever disobeys the Son will not see life, but must endure God’s
wrath.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">

</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 10pt 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Whoever is of the earth cannot obey the Son unless he/she is
transformed, cf. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Heb 11:6</b>. Saint
Paul warns against being earthly, “Put to death, therefore, whatever in you is
earthly: fornication, impurity, passion, evil desire, and greed (which is
idolatry). On account of these the wrath of God is coming on those who are
disobedient” (<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Col 3:5-6</b>). <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">

</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 10pt 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">We often talk about what God prepared for His elects, “What
no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the heart of man conceived, what God has prepared
for those who love him” (<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">1Cor 2:9; cf.
Is 64:3</b>). The God in question is a God of justice, cf. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Is 30:18</b>. Just as the good things He has prepared for those who
love Him cannot even be imagined, so terrible are the things He prepared for
those who hate Him that they cannot also be imagined. Christ warns us that
those who are earthly will be thrown into hell “where their worm never dies,
and the fire is never quenched” (<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Mk 9:48</b>).
Imagine being under the torment of worm that never dies and fire that never
quenches. The book of <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Revelation chapter
16</b> also tells us how terrible it will be. Try and read this passage (<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Rev 16</b>).<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">

</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 10pt 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">What do you work for – heaven or earth? Remember, each of
them has a price tag. Consider what is best for you.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">

</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 5pt 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Bible Reading</span></b><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">: Col 3:1-17; Eph 5:3-20.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">

</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 5pt 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Thought for today:</span></b><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"> Heaven and Hell are real.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">

</div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 5pt 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">You are free to share this reflection with
others if you consider it worthy.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">For more
homilies (reflections):<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
<br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.7in; text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Visit our
website: </span></span></b><a href="http://www.thepulpitonline.com/"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">www.thepulpitonline.com</span></span></a></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.7in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Like us on
Facebook:</span></b><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"> </span></span><a href="http://www.facebook.com/thepulpitonline"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">www.facebook.com/thepulpitonline</span></span></a><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.7in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Follow us on
Twitter:</span></b><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"> </span></span><a href="http://www.twitter.com/thepulpitonline"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">www.twitter.com/thepulpitonline</span></span></a><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.7in; text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Join our
WhatsApp Group via: +234 810 298 6313</span></span></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.7in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Send us
Email:</span></b><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"> </span></span><a href="mailto:fromthepulpitonline@gmail.com"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">thepulpitonline@gmail.com</span></span></a><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 10%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.7in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 10%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">To Contact and/or to support this ministry:<o:p></o:p></span></span></b><br />

<br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.7in; text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Tel: +234
813 305 0302</span></span></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.7in; text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Email: </span></span></b><a href="mailto:fromthepulpitonline@gmail.com"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">thepulpitonline@gmail.com</span></span></a><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 5pt 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">May
God bless you all+</span><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>

Thursday of the Second Week of Easter (23rd April, 2020)

Homily (Reflection) for Thursday of the Second Week of Easter (23 rd April, 2020) on the Gospel Acts 5:27-33; Ps 33:2.9.17-20....

Wednesday of the Second Week of Easter (22nd April, 2020)

thepulpitonline.com 0 Weekday Homilies 05:23

<br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Homily (Reflection) for Wednesday of
the Second Week of Easter (22<sup>nd</sup> April, 2020) on the Gospel<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
<br />

</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 10pt 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;">Topic: Commend or condemn</span></b><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;">.<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><o:p></o:p></b></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">

</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 2pt 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Today’s gospel is a continuation of the discussion between
Jesus and Nicodemus. God sent His only Son for us to have eternal life by
believing in Him. Christ, God’s only Son did not come into the world to condemn
it. However, “those who do not believe are condemned already, because they have
not believed in the name of the only Son of God.” Jesus explained further, <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">

</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 2pt 0in 0pt 0.7in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">And this is the judgement, that the light has come into the
world, and people loved darkness rather than light because their deeds were
evil. For all who do evil hate the light and do not come to the light, so that their
deeds may not be exposed.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">

</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 10pt 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">God created light first. And seeing that light and darkness
are incompatible, He separated them, cf. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Gen
1:3-4</b>. Jesus came into the world for us to have light, cf. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Is 9:2; cf. Matt 4:12-16</b>). In the words
of Saint Paul, “He has delivered us from the dominion of darkness and
transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son” (<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Col 1:13</b>). And Saint Peter wonderfully captured our call as
Christians thus, “But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation,
God's own people, that you may declare the wonderful deeds of him who called
you out of darkness into his marvellous light” (<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">1Pt 2:9</b>).<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">

</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 10pt 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">We “... are all sons of light and sons of the day; we are not
of the night or of darkness” (<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">1Thess 5:5</b>).
Saint Paul therefore rightly cautions us to, “walk as children of light” (<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Eph 5:8</b>). It is in each person’s own
hands to either commend or condemn him/herself by either believing or not
believing.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">

</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 5pt 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Bible Reading</span></b><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">: 1Pt 2:1-17.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">

</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 5pt 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Thought for today:</span></b><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"> Whoever does not believe is condemned.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">

Wednesday of the Second Week of Easter (22nd April, 2020)

Homily (Reflection) for Wednesday of the Second Week of Easter (22 nd April, 2020) on the Gospel Acts 5:17-26; Ps 33:2-9 (R. v. ...

Tuesday of the Second Week of Easter (21st April, 2020)

thepulpitonline.com 0 Weekday Homilies 04:27

<br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Homily (Reflection) for Tuesday of
the Second Week of Easter (21<sup>st</sup> April, 2020) on the Gospel<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 50%;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></span></b><br />

<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 10pt 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;">Topic: Jesus is lifted up</span></b><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;">.<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><o:p></o:p></b></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">

</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 2pt 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Today’s gospel is part of Jesus’ discussion with Nicodemus
who visited Him at night. It started with these words of Jesus to Nicodemus, <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">

</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 1pt 0in 0pt 0.7in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Do not be astonished that I said to you, ‘You must be born
from above.’ The wind blows where it chooses, and you hear the sound of it, but
you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone
who is born of the Spirit.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">

</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 10pt 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Although Jesus’ words were bizarre to Nicodemus, Jesus
reassured him that He knew what He was saying. Today’s gospel concludes, “And
just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man
be lifted up, that whoever believes in him may have eternal life.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">

</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 10pt 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">We are in the second week of celebrating that Jesus has been
lifted up for all to believe and have eternal life. Will it be absurd to ask of
what we make out of it? In his second letter to the Corinthians, Saint Paul wrote
“... if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has passed away,
behold, the new has come” (<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">2Cor 5:17</b>).
And in his letter to the Galatians, we read, “For neither circumcision counts
for anything, nor uncircumcision, but a new creation” (<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Gal 6:15</b>). So if one is really in Christ Jesus, he/she has been
born from above (again) and eternal life is assured but this must be seen in
actions, cf. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Rom 6:2; Gal 5:16-26</b>.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">

</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 5pt 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Bible Reading</span></b><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">: 2Cor 5:14–6:2.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">

</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 5pt 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Thought for today:</span></b><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"> Christ has died for us to live.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">

Tuesday of the Second Week of Easter (21st April, 2020)

Homily (Reflection) for Tuesday of the Second Week of Easter (21 st April, 2020) on the Gospel Acts 4:32-37; Ps 91:1-2.5. (R. ...

Monday of the Second Week of Easter (20th April, 2020)

thepulpitonline.com 0 Weekday Homilies 04:19

<br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Homily (Reflection) for Monday of the
Second Week of Easter (20<sup>th</sup> April, 2020) on the Gospel<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 50%;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></span></b><br />

</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 10pt 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;">Topic: Unless you are BORN AGAIN</span></b><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;">.<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><o:p></o:p></b></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">

</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjytulNg8tzVYP7q668Om0kzDRROEPwirBTShuDBU0kQ8nGot7yeXxErZUpoZKiPPUwHvrM3Gfm22ab7LKcjZ5CWq4Oy0HutCaRoriOfp1vvsQ0BmshnqYgsbO_GN8Hlv1vrqaCB7j-UiY/s1600/20.04.20.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="194" data-original-width="259" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjytulNg8tzVYP7q668Om0kzDRROEPwirBTShuDBU0kQ8nGot7yeXxErZUpoZKiPPUwHvrM3Gfm22ab7LKcjZ5CWq4Oy0HutCaRoriOfp1vvsQ0BmshnqYgsbO_GN8Hlv1vrqaCB7j-UiY/s1600/20.04.20.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 2pt 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">In today’s gospel, Jesus said to Nicodemus, “I tell you the
truth, unless you are born again, you cannot see the Kingdom of God” (<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Jn 3:3; NLT</b>). This reminds me of the
mail from a friend requesting to know how true it is that one must be born
again to be saved. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">

</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 10pt 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">This is very true. However, the true meaning of being a <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">born again</b> eludes many. Nicodemus first
sought the meaning of born again. Jesus said to him, “Very truly, I tell you,
no one can enter the kingdom of God without being born of water and Spirit” (<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Jn 3:5</b>). Again, we read from the gospel
according to Saint Mark, “He who believes and is baptized will be saved...” (<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Mk 16:16</b>). Therefore, being born again
is synonymous with being baptized. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">

</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 10pt 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">However, baptism goes with obligations. While giving mandate
to His disciples Jesus said, “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations,
baptising them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,
and teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you” (<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Matt 28:19-20a</b>). <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">

</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 10pt 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">That one after baptism fails to live out his/her baptismal
vows does in no way prove that baptism is no longer the key to our salvation
but that we must be careful. Thus, Jesus warns, “Not everyone who says to me,
‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of my
Father who is in heaven” (<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Matt 7:21</b>).<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">

</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 10pt 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The apostles understood what one must do to be saved. When
the jailer asked Paul and Silas, “<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Sirs,
what must I do to be saved</b>? (<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Acts
16:30</b>)”, <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">

</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 2pt 0in 0pt 0.7in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">They answered, ‘Believe on the Lord Jesus, and you will be
saved, you and your household.’ They spoke the word of the Lord to him and to
all who were in his house...then he and his entire family were baptized without
delay (<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Acts 16:31-33</b>).<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">

</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 10pt 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">At baptism, we were buried with Christ into His death, so
that ... we too might walk in newness of life, cf. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Rom 6:4; Col 2:12</b>. In sum, Saint Peter wrote, “Baptism... saves you”
(<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">1Pt 3:21</b>).<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">

</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 10pt 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Let us therefore confuse others no more. That one must be
baptized again is heresy. We need to help all baptized live out their baptismal
vows. And teach all who have not been baptized to accept Jesus Christ and be
baptized.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">

</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 5pt 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Bible Reading</span></b><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">: </span><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;">Acts 2:37-42</span><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">

</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 5pt 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Thought for today:</span></b><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"> </span><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;">Baptism... saves</span><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">

</div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 5pt 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">You are free to share this reflection with
others if you consider it worthy.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">For more
homilies (reflections):<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
<br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.7in; text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Visit our
website: </span></span></b><a href="http://www.thepulpitonline.com/"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">www.thepulpitonline.com</span></span></a></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.7in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Like us on
Facebook:</span></b><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"> </span></span><a href="http://www.facebook.com/thepulpitonline"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">www.facebook.com/thepulpitonline</span></span></a><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.7in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Follow us on
Twitter:</span></b><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"> </span></span><a href="http://www.twitter.com/thepulpitonline"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">www.twitter.com/thepulpitonline</span></span></a><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.7in; text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Join our
WhatsApp Group via: +234 810 298 6313</span></span></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.7in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Send us
Email:</span></b><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"> </span></span><a href="mailto:fromthepulpitonline@gmail.com"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">thepulpitonline@gmail.com</span></span></a><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 10%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.7in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 10%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 5pt 0in 0pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">To Contact and/or to support this ministry:<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
<br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.7in; text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Tel: +234
813 305 0302</span></span></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.7in; text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Email: </span></span></b><a href="mailto:fromthepulpitonline@gmail.com"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">thepulpitonline@gmail.com</span></span></a><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 5pt 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">May
God bless you all+</span><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>

Monday of the Second Week of Easter (20th April, 2020)

Homily (Reflection) for Monday of the Second Week of Easter (20 th April, 2020) on the Gospel Acts 4:23-31; Ps 2:1-9. (R. cf. ...

Second Sunday of Easter (Divine Mercy Sunday) (19th April, 2020)

thepulpitonline.com 0 Sunday homilies 06:25

<br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: large;">Homily (Reflection) for the Second Sunday
of Easter (Divine Mercy Sunday) (19</span><sup><span style="font-size: small;">th</span></sup><span style="font-size: large;"> April, 2020) on the Gospel and
the celebration<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;">Acts 2:42-47;</span><br />

<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 10pt 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;">Second Sunday of Easter is also known as Low Sunday or
Divine Mercy Sunday based on the devotion to the Divine Mercy as propagated by
a Polish Nun, Saint Faustina Kowalska. This feast (Divine Mercy Sunday) has
lots of promises of grace made by Jesus Christ as recorded by Saint Faustina.
It was officially instituted for the universal Church by Pope Saint John Paul
II on 30 April 2000 and designated the Sunday after Easter as the Sunday of the
Divine Mercy. This is in line with the request made by Jesus Christ through
Saint Faustina: “…the first Sunday after Easter is the Feast of Mercy” (Diary
742). For Pope Saint John Paul II, Divine Mercy is the Easter gift that the
Church receives from the risen Christ and offers to humanity (Divine Mercy
Sunday Homily, April 22, 2001). </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">

</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 10pt 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Topic:</span><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> Divine (God’s) Mercy</span></b><span style="font-family: Calibri;">.<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">

</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 2pt 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5bVDksQ46jU-fiL3iwE_ikaa-vNzk_CcR-uGIEMSMBQ0qy7_PkBGGgLbPq9C7fkF6DxdoKkD2Aj37a5ORT2R943UN1SZqmo9FiSzztmPpqgbzrxuLcaasKtwFKluMFGYihrKFv99iWtw/s1600/Divine+Mercy.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="271" data-original-width="186" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5bVDksQ46jU-fiL3iwE_ikaa-vNzk_CcR-uGIEMSMBQ0qy7_PkBGGgLbPq9C7fkF6DxdoKkD2Aj37a5ORT2R943UN1SZqmo9FiSzztmPpqgbzrxuLcaasKtwFKluMFGYihrKFv99iWtw/s1600/Divine+Mercy.png" /></a><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">We celebrate today the Mercy of God.
And because this feast is rooted in Saint Faustina’s encounter with Jesus
Christ, we shall take some excerpts from Saint Faustina’s Diary (Diary). Christ
suffered and died for our sins, cf. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Eph
2:16, Rom 5:10, 1Cor 15:3, Gal 1:4</b>. Yet in Diary 965 we read: “Souls perish
in spite of My [Jesus’] bitter Passion. I am giving them the last hope of
salvation; that is, the Feast of My Mercy. If they will not adore My mercy,
they will perish for all eternity….” The mercy we celebrate can only be
obtained by those who want. It can be likened to a stream in two senses: it
ever flows and secondly it benefits those who go for it. Unless one approaches the
Divine throne of mercy that ever flows, it will not be of any benefit to the
person</span><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">. <o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">

</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 10pt 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">One might ask: ‘how does one approach the throne of mercy?’ Going
further Jesus said to Saint Faustina: </span>“I want to grant a complete pardon
to the souls that will go to Confession and receive Holy Communion on the Feast
of My Mercy” (Diary 1109). Sacramental confession is therefore sine qua non for
one to benefit from the throne of mercy. <span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Although this homily is not on the
authority to forgive sin, but it is important however, to remind ourselves that
at the confessional, it is not the priest that forgives sin. In today’s gospel
Jesus said to the disciples: “…Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins
of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are
retained (<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Jn 20:22-23</b>). In other
words, it is the Holy Spirit that is working in the Church through the
instrumentality of mere humans (priests) at the confessional. <o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">

</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 10pt 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Jesus assures us,<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">

</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 2pt 0in 0pt 0.7in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;">I desire that the Feast of Mercy be a
refuge and shelter for all souls, and especially for poor sinners. On that day
the very depths of My tender mercy are open. I pour out a whole ocean of graces
upon those souls who approach the fount of My mercy. The soul that will go to
Confession and receive Holy Communion shall obtain the complete forgiveness of
sins and punishment. On that day all the divine floodgates through which grace
flow are opened. Let no soul fear to draw near to Me, even though its sins be
as scarlet (Diary 699). </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">

</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 10pt 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;">Remember that God had called us through the prophet Isaiah
using similar words: “Come now, let us reason together, says the LORD: though
your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red
like crimson, they shall become like wool” (<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Is 1:18</b>).</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">

</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 10pt 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">However, Jesus warns that <span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">those who look for mercy must be first
merciful themselves, cf. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Matt 6: 12, 14-15;
Lk 11:4; </b></span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Diary 742</b><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">. Similarly,
we read in the gospel according to Matthew: “Blessed are the merciful, for they
shall obtain mercy” (<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Matt 5:7</b>). So,
approach the throne of grace today for mercy. Remember those who need mercy as
you wait for mercy that is divine</span>. Finally, note that <span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">because of
the circumstances we are in (COVID-19), perfect contrition (contrition of
charity) and spiritual communion suffice (CCC 1452).</span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">

</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 10pt 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Bible Reading</span></b><span style="mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">: </span><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Lev 5:5-13; Is 1:2-20; Ps 32; Matt 28:16-20; 1Jn
1:5-10; Jas 5:13-20</span><span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">.</span><span style="mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">

</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 10pt 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Thought for today:</b>
What prevents you from receiving Christ’s Easter gift?</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">

</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 10pt 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Merciful Jesus, I
Trust in you</span></b><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">.</span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">

</div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 5pt 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">You are
free to share this reflection with others if you consider it worthy.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">For more homilies
(reflections):<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></b></div>
<br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;">Visit our website: </span></span></b><a href="http://www.thepulpitonline.com/"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;">www.thepulpitonline.com</span></span></a></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Like us on Facebook:</span></b><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"> </span></span></span><a href="http://www.facebook.com/thepulpitonline"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;">www.facebook.com/thepulpitonline</span></span></a><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></span></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Follow us on Twitter:</span></b><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"> </span></span></span><a href="http://www.twitter.com/thepulpitonline"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;">www.twitter.com/thepulpitonline</span></span></a><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></span></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Join our WhatsApp Group via: +234 810 298 6313</span></span></span></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Send us Email:</span></b><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"> </span></span></span><a href="mailto:fromthepulpitonline@gmail.com"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;">thepulpitonline@gmail.com</span></span></a><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 10%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 5pt 0in 0pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">To
Contact and/or to support this ministry:<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></b></div>
<br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Tel: +234 813 305 0302</span></span></span></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">      
</span>Email: </span></span></span></b><a href="mailto:fromthepulpitonline@gmail.com"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;">thepulpitonline@gmail.com</span></span></a><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 5pt 0in 0pt;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;">May God bless you all+</span></span></div>

Second Sunday of Easter (Divine Mercy Sunday) (19th April, 2020)

Homily (Reflection) for the Second Sunday of Easter (Divine Mercy Sunday) (19 th April, 2020) on the Gospel and the celebration Acts 2...

Easter Saturday (Saturday of the Octave of Easter) (18th April, 2020)

thepulpitonline.com 0 Solemnities and Feasts 05:41

<br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Homily (Reflection) for Easter Saturday
(Saturday of the Octave of Easter) (18<sup>th</sup> April, 2020) on the Gospel <o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 50%;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></span></b><br />

</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 10pt 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;">Topic: Never write off</span></b><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;">.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">

</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 2pt 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Today’s gospel is from the longer ending of Saint Mark’s
gospel. The gospel tells us that Jesus after His resurrection appeared first to
Mary Magdalene. She related that to His disciples who were mourning and
weeping, but they did not believe her story. He later appeared to two of His
disciples but the rest did not believe them.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">

</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 7pt 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Jesus again appeared to the eleven while they were at table.
He first scolded them for their lack of faith and stubbornness. And then said
to them, “Go into all the world and proclaim the good news to the whole
creation.” <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">

</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 10pt 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Mary Magdalene, the first to witness Christ’s resurrection was
a demoniac. Jesus had cast out seven demons from her. Just imagine her
condition before her deliverance, cf. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Mk
5:2-5</b>. On the other hand, the eleven Jesus commissioned to take the gospel
to all creatures did not only lack faith but were also very stubborn. Yet Jesus
did not write any of these off. Instead, He corrected them for good.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">

</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 10pt 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The book of Proverbs reads, “Train up a child in the way he
should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it” (<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Prov 22:6</b>). It is never a sign of love to condone any form of evil.
God reproves all whom He loves like a father, cf. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Prov 3:12; Heb 12:6</b>. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">

</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 10pt 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Let us therefore keep correcting each other. Every wrong
today calls for correction for a better tomorrow. We will end up endangering
our tomorrow if we fail to correct anything today under the pretext of love or
hate.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">

</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 5pt 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Bible Reading</span></b><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">: Heb 12:5-13.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">

</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 5pt 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Thought for today:</span></b><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"> Let’s correct each other.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">

</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 2pt 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;">Let us pray:</span></b><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;"> Lord, help us correct </span><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">each other</span><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;"> for your greater glory and for our safer tomorrow – Amen.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">

</div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 5pt 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">You are free to share this reflection with
others if you consider it worthy.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">For more
homilies (reflections):<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
<br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Visit our website: </span></span></b><a href="http://www.thepulpitonline.com/"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">www.thepulpitonline.com</span></span></a></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Like us on Facebook:</span></b><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"> </span></span><a href="http://www.facebook.com/thepulpitonline"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">www.facebook.com/thepulpitonline</span></span></a><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Follow us on Twitter:</span></b><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"> </span></span><a href="http://www.twitter.com/thepulpitonline"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">www.twitter.com/thepulpitonline</span></span></a><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Join our WhatsApp Group via: +234 810 298 6313</span></span></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Send us Email:</span></b><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"> </span></span><a href="mailto:fromthepulpitonline@gmail.com"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">thepulpitonline@gmail.com</span></span></a><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 10%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></span><br />

<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 5pt 0in 0pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">To Contact and/or to support this ministry:<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
<br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Tel: +234 813 305 0302</span></span></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Email: </span></span></b><a href="mailto:fromthepulpitonline@gmail.com"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">thepulpitonline@gmail.com</span></span></a><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 5pt 0in 0pt; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">May God bless you all+</span><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>

Easter Saturday (Saturday of the Octave of Easter) (18th April, 2020)

Homily (Reflection) for Easter Saturday (Saturday of the Octave of Easter) (18 th April, 2020) on the Gospel Acts 4:13-21; Ps ...

Easter Friday (Friday of the Octave of Easter) (17th April, 2020)

thepulpitonline.com 0 Solemnities and Feasts 06:04

<br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Homily (Reflection) for Easter Friday
(Friday of the Octave of Easter) (17<sup>th</sup> April, 2020) on the Gospel<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 50%;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></span></b><br />

<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 10pt 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;">Topic: Uphold your call</span></b><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;">.<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><o:p></o:p></b></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">

</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 2pt 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">In today’s gospel, seven of Jesus’ disciples fished all night
without success. Jesus came to them at daybreak but they did not recognise Him.
When they told Him that they caught nothing He said to them, “Cast the net to
the right of the boat, and you will find some.” When they did that, they found
it difficult to haul it because there were so many fish. Then the beloved
disciple said, “It is the Lord!” And on hearing this, Peter who was naked put
on some clothes and jumped into the sea.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">

</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 10pt 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Remember, when Jesus met Peter and Andrew by the Sea of
Galilee casting a net into the sea He said to them, “Follow me, and I will make
you fish for people” The bible tells us that they left their nets and followed
Jesus. Similarly, James and John also left their boat and their father and
followed Him, cf. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Matt 4:18-22</b>; <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Mk 1:16-20</b>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">   </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">

</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 10pt 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Everyone is called to different states and positions. Every
state and position goes with specific tasks. And each one is expected to live
out his or her own call, cf. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">1Cor
12:12-31</b>. Saint Paul admonished his son, “Do not neglect the gift you have,
which was given you by prophetic utterance when the council of elders laid
their hands upon you” (<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">1Tim 4:14</b>).<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">

</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 10pt 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Peter and his companions forgot their call to fish for people
and went back fishing for fish. And this is a negation of their call. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">

</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 10pt 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Sometimes, we do find ourselves in the same mess. We must be
careful so as not to leave our call or devoting more time to other things. Jesus
warns, “No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the
kingdom of God” (<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Lk 9:62</b>). We ought
to rekindle our call, and work out our own salvation with fear and trembling
without looking back, cf. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">2Tim 1:6; Phil
2:12</b>). <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">

</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 5pt 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Bible Reading</span></b><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">: 1Cor 12:12-31; Phil 2:1-18.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">

</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 5pt 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Thought for today:</span></b><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"> Remember your call always.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">

</div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 5pt 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">You are free to share this reflection with
others if you consider it worthy.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">For more
homilies (reflections):<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
<br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Visit our website: </span></span></b><a href="http://www.thepulpitonline.com/"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">www.thepulpitonline.com</span></span></a></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Like us on Facebook:</span></b><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"> </span></span><a href="http://www.facebook.com/thepulpitonline"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">www.facebook.com/thepulpitonline</span></span></a><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Follow us on Twitter:</span></b><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"> </span></span><a href="http://www.twitter.com/thepulpitonline"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">www.twitter.com/thepulpitonline</span></span></a><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Join our WhatsApp Group via: +234 810 298 6313</span></span></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Send us Email:</span></b><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"> </span></span><a href="mailto:fromthepulpitonline@gmail.com"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">thepulpitonline@gmail.com</span></span></a><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 10%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></span><br />

Easter Friday (Friday of the Octave of Easter) (17th April, 2020)

Homily (Reflection) for Easter Friday (Friday of the Octave of Easter) (17 th April, 2020) on the Gospel Acts 4:1-12; Ps 117:1...

Easter Thursday (Octave of Easter: Thursday) (16th April, 2020)

thepulpitonline.com 0 Solemnities and Feasts 05:27

<br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Homily (Reflection) for Easter Thursday
(Octave of Easter: Thursday) (16<sup>th</sup> April, 2020) on the Gospel <o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 50%;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></span></b><br />

<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 10pt 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;">Topic: Need to go back</span></b><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;">.<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><o:p></o:p></b></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">

</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 2pt 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">While the eleven and their companions were talking about what
were happening Jesus stood among them and said to them, “Peace be with you.” To
reassure them that they were not seeing a ghost, Jesus went further, <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">

</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 2pt 0in 0pt 0.7in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Why are you frightened, and why do doubts arise in your
hearts? Look at my hands and my feet; see that it is I myself. Touch me and
see; for a ghost does not have flesh and bones as you see that I have. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">

</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 10pt 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">He went on and showed them His hands and feet, yet in their
joy they were disbelieving and wondering. Jesus also ate a piece of boiled fish
in their presence.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">

</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 10pt 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Between Easter vigil and today, the apostles and their
companions had seen among other things the empty tomb, the angels, His
appearances, His hands and feet, and eating before them, yet their faith was
still shaky. Jesus then took them back to the scriptures to understand all that
happened. He opened their minds to understand the scriptures and also commissioned
them as witnesses. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">

</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 10pt 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Their faith could not be firm on miracles alone. Jesus taught
them what is in the scriptures. There is serious need for all to go back to the
scriptures. We conclude with these words from the scripture and the teaching of
Saint Ambrose, “The Church ‘forcefully and specifically exhorts all the
Christian faithful... to learn ‘the surpassing knowledge of Christ’, by
frequent reading of the divine Scriptures. ‘Ignorance of the Scriptures is the
ignorance of Christ.</span><a href="file:///C:/Users/Fr.%20Moses/Desktop/Weekday%20Homilies/Daily%20Tonic%20for%20Year%20II%20(2019-2020)/Lent%20and%20Easter%20(2020)/Easter%20Octave%20(2020).docx" name="_ftnref1" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn1;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">[1]</span></span></span></span></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;">’”
All the questions that beg for answers today have all been answered by God in
His Word (bible). What we need is to open and see.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">

</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 5pt 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Bible Reading</span></b><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">: Phil 3:7-10; 2Tim 3:10-17.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">

</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 5pt 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Thought for today:</span></b><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"> Jesus is truly risen.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">

</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 2pt 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;">Let us pray:</span></b><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;"> Lord, give me a heart that always believes
in you and not eyes that always seek for miracles – Amen.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">

</div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 5pt 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">You are free to share this reflection with
others if you consider it worthy.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">For more
homilies (reflections):<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
<br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Visit our website: </span></span></b><a href="http://www.thepulpitonline.com/"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">www.thepulpitonline.com</span></span></a></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Like us on Facebook:</span></b><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"> </span></span><a href="http://www.facebook.com/thepulpitonline"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">www.facebook.com/thepulpitonline</span></span></a><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Follow us on Twitter:</span></b><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"> </span></span><a href="http://www.twitter.com/thepulpitonline"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">www.twitter.com/thepulpitonline</span></span></a><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Join our WhatsApp Group via: +234 810 298 6313</span></span></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Send us Email:</span></b><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"> </span></span><a href="mailto:fromthepulpitonline@gmail.com"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">thepulpitonline@gmail.com</span></span></a><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 10%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 10%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">To Contact and/or to support this ministry:<o:p></o:p></span></span></b><br />

<br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Tel: +234 813 305 0302</span></span></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Email: </span></span></b><a href="mailto:fromthepulpitonline@gmail.com"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">thepulpitonline@gmail.com</span></span></a><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 5pt 0in 0pt; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">May God bless you all+</span><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div style="mso-element: footnote-list;">
<br clear="all" />

<div class="MsoFootnoteText" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.7in;">
<a href="file:///C:/Users/Fr.%20Moses/Desktop/Weekday%20Homilies/Daily%20Tonic%20for%20Year%20II%20(2019-2020)/Lent%20and%20Easter%20(2020)/Easter%20Octave%20(2020).docx" name="_ftn1" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn1;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 110%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">[1]</span></span></span></span></a><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> <span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Catechism of the Catholic Church
(CCC), n. 133.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
</div>
</div>

Easter Thursday (Octave of Easter: Thursday) (16th April, 2020)

Homily (Reflection) for Easter Thursday (Octave of Easter: Thursday) (16 th April, 2020) on the Gospel Acts 3:11-26; Ps 8:2.5-...